Author Topic: Bitten by a .243 bug. Need AR 10 options. (Read 26380 times)

Fenris · « **on:** November 07, 2009, 08:10:07 pm »

Is anyone besides DPMS doing a .243 in the AR 10 platform? Don't say Remington. Under the camo dip, it's a DPMS. Likewise, why are Armalite ar10 mags smaller than DPMS ar 10 mags? Is there no standardization? I want the .243 because it fills a hole in my collection and will be an awesome coyote gun. .308 is right out because I don't want/need one. I am firm on the .243. Very firm.

WeTheArmed.com

AR lover · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2009, 09:40:04 pm »

I cannot think of a major maker off the top of my head that makes a .243 AR-10...I know several makers of uppers only though.

Armalite uses modified M14 mags, which is why they look different than DPMS mags.

Avenger29 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2009, 10:11:33 pm »

There is no standardization in the AR-10 pattern world.

You either have the SR-25/DPMS pattern magwell or the Armalite AR-10 pattern magwell. I beleive CMMG also makes a G-3 mag lower and I thought they also made an FAL mag lower.

Magpul is going to produce their PMAGs for the SR-25/DPMS magwell rifles, IIRC.

MarshallDodge · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2009, 12:01:28 am »

Why the not the DPMS? Their AR-15's definitely lack but the LR-XXX rifles are very nice and accurate.

Fenris · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2009, 03:17:38 pm »

I don't have anything against the DPMS, just kinda leery about the mag difference thing and when they are the only guys doing the complete rifle... C Pro. mags fit the DPMS/ Remington and we have a ton on hand at the store. I guess that clinches the DPMS. Do you have to stick with DPMS upgrade parts in the lower? I know I will have to get a new trigger setup. After Christmas, the next step will be optics.

AR lover · « **Reply #5 on:** November 08, 2009, 03:34:13 pm »

Plenty of other companies make AR-10s...and most of them are DPMS' standard (mags and such, most are DPMS type, KAC's are, etc), but they figger, since DPMS has a .243 out already, and there isn't much of a demand for a high end one, why make it? It doesn't appeal to the tacticool market like a .308 does.

akodo · « **Reply #6 on:** November 08, 2009, 03:57:43 pm »

Quote from: MarshallDodge on November 08, 2009, 12:01:28 am

Why the not the DPMS? Their AR-15's definitely lack but the LR-XXX rifles are very nice and accurate.

What's lacking on a DPMS AR-15?

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2009, 04:31:31 pm »

Quote from: Avenger29 on November 07, 2009, 10:11:33 pm

Magpul is going to produce their PMAGs for the SR-25/DPMS magwell rifles, IIRC.

Which is why the SR-25/DPMS/R-25 wins.

MarshallDodge · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2009, 05:43:03 pm »

Quote from: akodo on November 08, 2009, 03:57:43 pm

What's lacking on a DPMS AR-15?

Their Panther target models are OK but the carbine models are a cheaper grade.

They don't shot peen or magnetic particle test the bolt, the gas key and castle nut is not staked, and from what I have seen they do not chrome line the barrels. Just a lot of little corners that are cut.

Fenris · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2010, 05:47:01 pm »

OK, with a long hiatus, I have news. I have the rifle. It shoots awesome. I am currently tinkering with the trigger to get it smoothed out because the break-in trigger job (3000+ rounds down range) is way too darned expensive even with crappy .243 ammo. I'm loving the way the gun handles and groups hornaday factory loaded 58 grain v-max. I will be building some 55 grain nosler rounds to see if the rifle will still shoot as tight. Flipping through the Nosler book I ran into some interesting information... The .243 55 grain projectile has a better coefficient than the .22 cal slug of the same weight. And in 22-250, velocity was about sixes between .243 and 22-250. Hence my whole reason for the .243 Ar. With the 55 grain bullet, I essentially have a 22-250 with a fat stack of 20 round magazines. And hand loading for the beast means that I can afford to shoot it every bit as cheaply as my .223 AR.

LittleLebowski · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2010, 05:51:42 pm »

Dang, I'm interested. Pics of the rifle and groups, please

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2010, 08:39:54 pm »

Quote from: Fenris the Warmonger on March 21, 2010, 05:47:01 pm

And hand loading for the beast means that I can afford to shoot it every bit as cheaply as my .223 AR.

Don't make me want one... A .243 Broadsword...

Oh... wait... I could get that AT COST!

Fenris · « **Reply #12 on:** May 01, 2010, 11:48:30 pm »

Haven't doped out the load yet. Life gets in the way a little too much. Pics will follow soon. Promise.

Fenris · « **Reply #13 on:** May 30, 2010, 07:37:00 am »

So, after entirely too long here is a photo of the rifle.
/Users/benthompson/Desktop/243 of the beast.jpg
I took the pic with my phone. I still need to put in some press/range time to see how well I can get the 6mm Nostler 55 grain bullets to play on paper out of the rifle. Not enough hours in a day.

johnnyboy83 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 30, 2010, 10:49:22 am »

Remington is the only other one I can think of, and they are pricey. I have one at the shop that we just can't sell. .243 is just hard to market in an AR10 when you could have 308.

I found that Armalite has an AR10 offering at about the same price as Remington. And these guys make an upper for 243. My google-fu is weak today...holiday weekend and such.

http://www.ar-10-rifles.com/index.php

LittleLebowski · « **Reply #15 on:** June 04, 2010, 02:10:08 pm »

Quote from: Fenris on May 30, 2010, 07:37:00 am

So, after entirely too long here is a photo of the rifle.
/Users/benthompson/Desktop/243 of the beast.jpg
I took the pic with my phone. I still need to put in some press/range time to see how well I can get the 6mm Nostler 55 grain bullets to play on paper out of the rifle. Not enough hours in a day.

No pic.

Fenris · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2010, 12:46:33 pm »

Yeah, the zen of posting pics is something I have yet to master. I try again. Sorry for the flub Lebowski.

Harm · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2010, 12:50:56 pm »

Damn thats cool. And the regular DPMS 308 PMAGS will run the .243?

Fenris · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2010, 10:30:33 am »

Quote from: Harm on June 16, 2010, 12:50:56 pm

And the regular DPMS 308 PMAGS will run the .243?

Yup. .243 is just a .308 necked down to 6mm. case length and width are identical, just a smaller projectile.